Ramiro Reyes: South Stockton is “a nightmare and a dump.” Said it looks “like a war zone.” He also spoke about crime, abandoned cars, cars full of junk. “We can be poor but let’s be clean.”

Gerilynn Afllege spoke of her bad experiences at the Animal Shelter. Hannah Shaw, a UOP student, spoke of need to “bring real change to the shelter.” Sherry Tomasello: “The Stockton Animal Shelter is a place of depression and death.”

Vicky Harper said “illegal acts” continually take place at the Shelter.

Vincent Sales spoke about his religious views, a “lack of prayer.” “Without prayer and repentance God will judge.”

Dionne Smith-Downs, mother of James Rivera — who was 16 when he was shot and killed by Stockton police in 2010 — spoke angrily about police brutality.

Rev. Bob Hailey criticized The Record for its coverage of Mayor Anthony Silva. ”We elected him by a great margin and he is going to stay there. All the petty stuff you bring up … it’s pitiful.”

Additional speakers criticized police brutality. Aaron Paradiso, a young man in a wheelchair, was among those angered by the killing earlier this month of 45-year-old Donald Haynes. Here are two videos, first of a group of speakers, then of Paradiso.

Ralph Lee White said the only difference between “a Klansman in the south” and an officer here is “the hood.”

Susan Giraldez spoke on the city’s Animal Services problem.

John Beckman of the Building Industry Association spoke on Bear Creek East and Stockton being “closed for business.”

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Blog Author

Roger Phillips

Roger Phillips covers Stockton City Hall for The Record. He has been at The Record since 2006. After spending most of his time at The Record writing about education, he has moved into the city government beat. Read Full